Ireland has made notable progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as stated by the UN Regional Information Center for Western Europe. The country presented its Voluntary National Review (VNR) to the United Nations, marking its second submission that assesses its advancements in the 17 SDGs.
Alongside 38 other nations, including the European Union, Ireland shared its review at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which took place from July 10 to July 19. This forum aimed to accelerate SDG implementation by facilitating the exchange of experiences and lessons learned among participating countries.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted unanimously by all UN Member States in 2015, outlined 17 goals to promote a more peaceful and prosperous planet. Addressing interconnected challenges such as poverty, climate change, healthcare, and inequality, the SDGs serve as a blueprint for sustainable development.
Ireland’s 2023 review, developed under the theme of ‘Building Back Better while Leaving No One Behind,’ reflects its commitment to fully implementing the SDGs domestically and contributing to their achievement internationally, ensuring that no one is left behind. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD, in the review report, emphasized the nation’s approach toward achieving the SDGs.
The report finds that Ireland has fully achieved over 80% of the 169 targets associated with the SDGs. Significant progress has been made in areas such as education (SDG 4), hunger reduction (SDG 2), and health and well-being (SDG 3). However, certain targets related to clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), and partnerships to achieve the goals (SDG 17) are still works in progress.
In the education sector, Ireland has performed well overall in terms of quality education (SDG 4). The report highlights that 97% of eligible children benefit from the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, which offers two years of state-funded pre-school education. The government has allocated €9.6 billion in the 2023 budget to continue investing in primary and post-primary education.
Employment and social protection have also seen advancements in Ireland. The report states that more people are employed in the country than ever before, with low youth unemployment and high female labor market participation. Ireland achieved its target of having 2.5 million people employed by the end of 2021, as outlined in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The employment rate for young people stood at 46.7% in the fourth quarter of 2022, and measures were taken to support young people in the labor market, including funding additional places in further and higher education and increasing the number of apprenticeships.
While Ireland has set commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve a net-zero emission target by 2050, the report acknowledges challenges in climate action. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data shows a 4.7% increase in emissions in 2021, with a 19% growth in agricultural emissions over the past decade. However, progress has been made in decarbonizing the electricity sector, with a 45% reduction in electricity emissions between 2005 and 2020. In 2020, 42% of Ireland’s electricity came from renewable sources. Nevertheless, the country is not currently on track to achieve its renewable energy targets.
In the pursuit of a circular economy, Ireland has implemented measures to reduce resource consumption, promote waste prevention, and increase re-use and recycling. The country aims to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030, aligning with the SDGs. Additionally, Ireland has banned several single-use disposable items in line with EU policies.
The report highlights the importance of leaving no one behind in achieving the SDGs. Civil society stakeholders contributed to Ireland’s review, and National Stakeholder Fora were held to ensure meaningful engagement from diverse groups, including youth representatives, refugees, single parents, and people with disabilities. These inclusive processes emphasized the significance of involving all segments of Irish society in decision-making.
The Voluntary National Reviews submitted by Ireland and other countries will inform discussions at the 2023 SDG Summit, held on September 18-19 in New York. During the summit, heads of state and government conducted a comprehensive review of the state of the SDGs. Ireland, alongside Qatar, co-facilitated the negotiation of a political declaration that served as the summit’s outcome.